Authors

Submitting Campus

Worldwide

Department

Aeronautical Science

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication/Presentation Date

8-2013

Abstract/Description

A variety of challenges to the successful assimilation of UASs into the National Airspace System (NAS) currently exist. Technical issues and human factors related hurdles have brought forth a range of research efforts to help to mitigate or resolve these challenges. Regulations and legislation play a significant role in controlling or restricting the use of UASs in the NAS. Currently there appears to be a contraposition of sentiment between the Federal Aviation Administration and Congress on the inclusion of UASs in the NAS. Congress has called for the adoption of UAS operations in the NAS by 2015 yet the FAA has placed an assortment of restrictions and obstacles on the certification and use of UASs which severely inhibit research and development activities. Yet another setback has recently surfaced when the FAA suspended its selection process for UAS test sites due to privacy concerns. This new obstacle has the potential to further delay UAS integration. The privacy debate is inherent to American society. So important is the issue that it is covered in the Fourth Amendment of the U. S. Constitution. Public outcry concerning unwarranted or unknown observation is nothing new. With the advent of new surveillance technologies and techniques, concern that they may be used in violation of personal rights and protections has grown. Examples include wiretapping, electronic surveillance, video monitoring, and other types of law enforcement and related agency activities. This study identified themes among the dissent for such technologies as well as for UAS integration. Further, commonalities and occurrences in previous privacy-related confrontations were characterized in order to serve as a guide for efforts to resolve the UAS privacy quandary.